The VanDams’ deer hunt

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Jackson VanDam poses with an 8-point he killed in Kansas during the opening day of gun deer season.
Jackson VanDam poses with an 8-point he killed in Kansas during the opening day of gun deer season.
Jackson’s twin brother, Nicholas joins him in the trophy shot.
Jackson’s twin brother, Nicholas joins him in the trophy shot.
And Kevin VanDam, no stranger to photo shoots, gets busy getting the perfect shot.
And Kevin VanDam, no stranger to photo shoots, gets busy getting the perfect shot.
VanDam worked with the two for several minutes, undoubtedly drawing on years of experience of having photographers do the same thing with him but holding a fish.
VanDam worked with the two for several minutes, undoubtedly drawing on years of experience of having photographers do the same thing with him but holding a fish.
KVD and Jackson work together to get the deer out of the field.
KVD and Jackson work together to get the deer out of the field.
Where Jackson would tag the deer.
Where Jackson would tag the deer.
And Uncle Russ Campbell would help him don latex gloves for the field-dressing process.
And Uncle Russ Campbell would help him don latex gloves for the field-dressing process.
KVD would watch the process, offering guidance on every cut.
KVD would watch the process, offering guidance on every cut.
Once dressed and tagged, brother Nicholas would help load the deer.
Once dressed and tagged, brother Nicholas would help load the deer.
Nicholas would spend three straight days sitting in this stand.
Nicholas would spend three straight days sitting in this stand.
Each of his sits would last from daylight to dark. While Nicholas would see many deer, he never saw the giant he was hoping for.
Each of his sits would last from daylight to dark. While Nicholas would see many deer, he never saw the giant he was hoping for.
Kansas is home to a healthy whitetail deer population
Kansas is home to a healthy whitetail deer population
Hunters come from all over the country for an opportunity to kill one of the state’s big deer. Few would bother with a deer this small.
Hunters come from all over the country for an opportunity to kill one of the state’s big deer. Few would bother with a deer this small.
But you have the small with the big.
But you have the small with the big.
These photos are just a sample of the action in a 1 ½-hour sit on a stand.
These photos are just a sample of the action in a 1 ½-hour sit on a stand.
Jackson was the first to kill a deer on the three-day hunt.
Jackson was the first to kill a deer on the three-day hunt.
His father would join him with his own buck the next day, a 10-point mainframe buck that was coursing through the draws and ridges of their east Kansas deer lease.
His father would join him with his own buck the next day, a 10-point mainframe buck that was coursing through the draws and ridges of their east Kansas deer lease.
Each of the deer would be photographed extensively and from every angle.
Each of the deer would be photographed extensively and from every angle.
And dad would joke with son during the process.
And dad would joke with son during the process.
And eventually join in for a team photo.
And eventually join in for a team photo.